Halcyon comes more into focus

Halcyon, perhaps Forsyth County’s most important development in the past 15 years, has announced several new eateries, helping to clear up the picture of what this game-changer will be.

The project broke ground last year and residents, Realtors and others considering a move to Forsyth have kept this on their radars.

While the stats of the development were announced early, many have been wondering what exactly would be its style. The developer’s announcement last week of under contract tenants show a development that will be unique and will borrow themes from several of intown Atlanta’s successful projects.

The $370-million, 135-acre project will be a mixed-use development similar to Avalon. It’s located just off the Big Creek Greenway and will feature 690 residential units, including single-family homes, townhomes and apartments.

There will be 50 acres of greenspace, two hotels and Atlanta’s first CMX cinema.

CMX is a high-end, 10-screen movie theater that will have full-service dining, cocktails and plush recliners. Halcyon will also include more than 500,000 square feet of office and retail space.

The recent announcement focused on new restaurants and restaurant-concepts that will be in Halcyon.

Many of the eateries are known around the metro area as top food concepts, according to the Atlanta Business Chronicle. And many of those will be in a food market, similar to that of the successful and much talked-about Krog Street Market in intown Atlanta.

Announced tenants include:

Gu’s Dumplings – This was originally founded on Buford Highway and offers authentic Szechuan cuisine, including dumplings, cold noodles and stir-fried dishes.

TOCAYO – This will be a taco stand operated by Louis Soon, who founded Alpharetta’s South Main Kitchen and Butcher & Brew.

Butcher and Brew – Calling itself “A Craft American Shop,” this restaurant offers craft beers from all over the U.S. and is styled as an “urban retro street shop from the fifties and sixties era.” The menu features unique sandwiches, wings and pigs in blankets. This restaurant is also in downtown Alpharetta.

Never Enough Thyme – A breakfast, lunch and dinner restaurant featuring pastries, sandwiches and quiche. Another location operates off McGinnis Ferry in Alpharetta.

Other commitments include Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee Company, a standalone restaurant called CO-OP Community Table and Bar, and a yet-to-be-named burger concept.

Halcyon sits near the southeastern corner of Ga. 400 and McFarland Road. The project is just west of several large office developments, a couple exits north on Ga. 400 from the heart of Alpharetta’s tech campuses, and just south of Lake Lanier. It could easily serve as a town center for residents in Forsyth County. While Cumming’s downtown has plenty of infrastructure, there is very little in the way of nightlife or weekend entertainment or shopping.

Homes in Halcyon will start at $600,000, while townhomes will be in the $400,000s.

The project was designed by Avalon and Battery Park designer Wakefield Beasley and Associates and is being developed by RocaPoint Partners and The Georgetown Company. The project is slated to open sometime in 2018.